Compensation for being on call

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Specializes in critical care.

My hospital has really cracked down on overtime. I sincerely understand the need to keep costs down but it's another new policy that has me concerned. When our unit census is low we are often cancelled for the first four hours (we work 12 hr shifts). We have to remain available and on-call during that time and may have to go in and work the remaining 8 hours. We are not compensated at all for the 4 hours we are on call. Again I understand the need to cut costs, but is this legal? It would be much easier to swallow if we were paid even $5 /hour to be on call. Does anyone else deal with being on-call, and if so are you compensated? I would really appreciate some feedback.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Anywhere I have ever worked, you received some sort of compensation for being on call. Some places it was as little as $1/hour, most it was $4/hr. The $1/hr was quite the insult, really, but it was what was available - take it or leave it. My current hospital pays time and a half for the first 4 hours if you do get called in. But when we are put on call, it is for the whole 12 hour shift. You have to be there within 30 minutes of being called, so you have to think about what you are doing at home. No lawn mowing/shopping, etc. for me, 'cuz I wouldn't be able to clean up in time/dressed and ready to go. Sometimes you can make it up later in the week if census goes back up on a day that is short staffed.

Yeah, I get the economics of it all, and most places do try to keep it fair, rotating who is on call, etc. It's still hard when you are depending on that dollar amount week to week.

:uhoh3:

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Specializes in Oncology, radiology, ICU.

At my current employer we get paid $2 an hour while on call and have 30 minutes to get to work if called in. We also have the option to use our ETO for the hours we are off. At my previous employer it was $5 an hour for on call and we had 1 hour to get there if called in. I lived 1 1/2 hours from that job so I had to refuse on call and only took low census.

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Specializes in Home Health, Psyc, OR.

Our hospital also pays us $2 an hour to be on call. We have 30 min. to get there if we are called in. It isn't much but it is better than nothing! If we do get called in we get our regular pay, not time and a half.

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We get $2.25/hr for on call, and if we get called in, we get a little extra (not much!). We have an hour to get there once called.

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We get $3/hr for on call, but it's for the entire 12 hrs. If we get called in, it's just regular pay for me as well, no time and a half. And unfortunately, if I was the only one called off in the morning, I'm not aloud to refuse being on call, it's mandatory

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Specializes in Labor & Delivery.

We have to take 16 hours of call per month. We can also opt to stay home on call if it is quiet at work. We make $7/hr while on call. If we get called in, we make full wages for 4 hours regardless of when called in (we work 8 hour shifts). If we are canceled as opposed to being on call, they have to cancel us prior to 2 hrs before shift start (which they never do) or else we receive full wages for 4 hours.

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One of our residents accidentally left his contract at our nurses station. Their on-call pay is $25.00/hr and ER is $45.00/hr. Now, can anyone tell me why their time at home is worth more than mine? Our hospital only pays nurses $2.00/hr on call pay.

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Wow, I thought I had it bad. I get $8 an hour to be on-call, and if I'm called in, I get time and a half... like $65... If it is an "unscheduled" day... it is time1/2+ $10= $75, if I'm called in...

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Specializes in Critical Care.
Wow, I thought I had it bad. I get $8 an hour to be on-call, and if I'm called in, I get time and a half... like $65... If it is an "unscheduled" day... it is time1/2+ $10= $75, if I'm called in...

WOW! Unheard of! Where do you work? (What part of the country?)

:eek:

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Specializes in Peds; Peds Oncology.

we get paid nothing for being on call (which is a sore spot with dh). to get around any legalities of it, they don't call it "on call" anymore...they call it pla...paid leave available.:argue:

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Northern California! I don't know why anyone would want to work anywhere else either! *smile*

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